Philips Hue Essential lights are spectacular value, but the originals outshine them in one key way

29 Dec 2025, 18:00 · TechRadar

TechRadar Verdict

Philips' Hue Essential series is a great entry-level range of smart lights that is fully compatible with other Hue devices, with the bulbs working brilliantly in most situations. The main drawback is that they can only dim to 2% (on the left in the image above) compared to 0.2% for regular Hue lights (right). Their white light spectrum is narrower, too, so I wouldn't recommend mixing and matching them within the same room. Used on their own, however, they offer fantastic value and are an excellent way to start a Hue setup or extend your existing one without breaking the bank.

Pros

+Much more affordable than regular Philips Hue lights
+Very good color reproduction
+Fully compatible with Philips Hue app and accessories
+All Essential bulbs offer tuneable white and colored light

Cons

-Dimmable to 2% brightness, compared to 0.2% for a regular Philips Hue bulb
-Only three bulb types available
-Darker 'halo' sometimes visible around top of bulb

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Philips Hue Essential: two-minute review

Philips Hue Essential bulbs are a more affordable version of the company's standard smart lights, and they perform incredibly well considering they're less than half the price. There are a few limitations, though. For example, Philips Hue Essential bulbs offer a maximum brightness of **803**CHECK*** lumens, whereas standard Philips Hue White & Color Ambiance bulbs range from 800 to 1,600 lumens.

In most other respects, the two are very similar, and during my tests there was only one clear instance where the standard bulb really outshone the Essential version.

The Philips Hue Essential bulb's color reproduction was impressive (Image credit: Future)

To see how the two would compare, I set up a pair of lamps – one with a Philips Hue Essential bulb, and the other with an 800-lumen Philips Hue White & Color Ambiance bulb. I added them to the same room in the Philips Hue app, which would enable me to control them simultaneously, and directly compare and contrast their output.

During most of the tests I ran, it was difficult to spot any difference between the two. Both were equally responsive, and produced colors that were identical to my naked eye when I switched between scenes. According to Signify (the company behind the Philips Hue brand), Essential bulbs use different color-matching technology to regular Hue lights; but personally, I had a hard time telling the difference.

Having said that, I did notice a dark band at the top of the Essential bulb, which wasn't present on the premium bulb. This was most apparent with purple and blue light. Note that it isn't something you'll notice if you're using the bulb in a ceiling light, nor in a table lamp, and therefore is unlikely to be a deal-breaker unless you're exceptionally picky.

A dark "halo" is sometimes visible around the top of the Philips Hue Essential bulb (Image credit: Future)

The two were equally bright (as expected), although if I'd used a higher-output White & Color Ambiance bulb, then it would have been appreciably brighter.

However, there's one important difference that you should be aware of, particularly if you're looking for smart bulbs that will produce a natural-looking sunrise and sunset to help you wake up feeling refreshed, or to create subtle ambient lighting in your living room.

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